Lunch bags get sticky, stained, and smelly fast, especially when something leaks inside. Here, I explain how to clean a lunch bag correctly, whether you’re wiping it down, hand washing it, or wondering if it can go in the washing machine. You’ll also find a video demonstrating how.
Why You Should Clean Your Lunch Bag Regularly
I’ve packed school lunches for a long time, and spilled milk, forgotten fruit, leaky containers, and mystery smells all eventually find their way into a lunch bag. Wiping up those everyday messes and giving the bag a deeper clean when needed helps prevent stains and smells from sticking around.
How you clean it depends on the material and care instructions. Some insulated lunch bags can go in the washing machine, while others should be hand washed.
Can You Wash an Insulated Lunch Bag in the Washing Machine?
Sometimes. Always check the care label first, because the insulation, lining, zippers, and construction vary from one lunch bag to another.
If the manufacturer says your lunch bag is machine washable, here’s how I wash ours:
- Empty it
Remove all containers, food, wrappers, and crumbs. Check the pockets too. - Wash on cold
Use a gentle cycle with cold water and a small amount of mild detergent. I wash lunch bags separately or with old towels and rags rather than clothing that could get caught on the zippers. - Air dry
Open the lunch bag completely and let it air dry before using it again. Unless the manufacturer specifically says the bag is dryer-safe, I skip the dryer since heat can damage some insulated linings.
How to Hand Wash an Insulated Lunch Bag
Hand washing is my go-to when a lunch bag isn’t labeled machine washable or I’m unsure how the insulation will hold up.
- Wash
Add a small amount of dish soap to warm water. Dip a soft cloth or sponge into the soapy water and wipe the inside and outside of the bag. - Rinse
Use a separate cloth dampened with clean water to remove the soap. Pay extra attention to seams and corners where food and spills tend to collect. - Dry completely
Pat away excess water with a towel and leave the lunch bag open to air dry. I often turn ours upside down in the dish rack overnight so air can circulate through the entire bag.
How to Wash a Lunch Bag
Laura’s Lunch Bag Cleaning Tips
I do a quick check when the lunch bag comes home and wipe up spills right away. For bags that get used every day, a deeper cleaning once a week is a good routine, especially if food or drinks have leaked inside.
For small spills, you usually don’t need to wash the entire bag. Remove any crumbs and wipe the area with a damp cloth and a little mild dish soap. Wipe it again with a clean damp cloth and leave the bag open until completely dry.
Start by cleaning out any crumbs or food hiding in seams and corners, then wash the interior according to the bag’s care instructions. Most importantly, let it dry completely open. Trapped moisture can leave a lunch bag smelling musty even after you’ve cleaned it.
Typically, No. You’ll want to air-dry yours because high heat can be hard on insulated linings and other materials inside some lunch bags. Only if the manufacturer’s care instructions say it’s dryer-safe.
A lunch bag is the outer insulated bag that holds the lunch box, ice packs, and other lunch items. A lunch box is the container that actually holds the food, so it shouldn’t go in the washing machine.
Most lunch boxes can be hand-washed in warm, soapy water or cleaned in the dishwasher if they’re dishwasher-safe. Metal lunch boxes are the exception and should be hand washed with warm, soapy water and dried thoroughly.
Yes, some lunch bags can be cleaned in the dishwasher. First, spray or rinse the inside well to remove any food or sticky residue. Then open the lunch bag completely and place it inside-side down on the top rack so the water can reach the interior.
Skip the heated drying cycle. Remove the lunch bag after washing, open it completely, and let it air dry before using it again.
More Ways to Make Lunch Easier
For more helpful lunch how-tos and lunch ideas, check these out:
- How to clean a water bottle straws
- Best lunch containers (tested reviews)
- School lunch ideas for kindergarten
- Easy school lunch ideas
Still wondering what to pack?
Download my Printable Lunchbox Builder to turn the ingredients you already have into lunch ideas in minutes, or browse hundreds more kid-approved lunch recipes here.
Holly Denton says
I always hand wash but I turn them inside out to get into the corners. Then air dry.
Carol S says
Thanks for the tips!! I’ll probably be hand washing my daughter’s lunch bag from now on so that it will hopefully last another school year.